George cooper



(No Model.)

G. COOPER.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 5, 1889.

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iTn STATns PaTnNT Trier.

GEORGE COOPER, OF BENNIN lilON, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES COO-PER, OF SAME PLACE.

ClRCULAR-KNITTING MACl-ilNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,417, dated February 5, 1889.

Application filed January 13, 1888. Serial No. 260,670, (No model.)

T ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE COOPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bennington, in the countyof Bennington and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (,ircularKnitting Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in attachments for circular-knitting machines, and has for its object to provide an automatic attachment for circular-kuitting machines which will produce the tuck-stitch and slack course in a manner more simple and effective j than has been heretofore employed in the art, and also to provide an attachment for the purposes above mentioned which is cheaply manufactured, readily understood, and applied to any style of. circular machines now in use wherein a presser and stitch-wheel are employed, without changing the construction of the machine to which it is to be attached. The object of the invention is, further, to provide automatic means for moving the o stitch-wheel and prcsser to and from the needles, the same advancing and receding as the needle-cylinder rotates at specified intervals to form the required pattern desired to be produced, and also the construction of the pressers in a manner which will admit of their re moval and replacement with but little trouble and expense; and it consists in the construction and arrangements of parts, hereinafter described, and more i articularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention is fully illustrated in the ac companying drawings, wherein like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved machine, showing the needle-cylinder partly broken away and the lower prcsser forced back from the needles. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line to 00 of Fig. 1, and showing the removable grooved collar in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3 1 of Fig. 1; Fig. l, a bottom view of the bed-piece, partly broken away, showing the arrangement of the springs for holding the slides and levers in place. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lever for operating the stitch-wheel and its connections. Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the presserdisk linings.

In the drawings, A represents a portion of a circular-knitting machine; 13, the needlesupporting cylinder, having a cam projection, b, on its outer side; and C are barbed nee dles, which are secured in an upright position in any suitable manner. A bed-piece or frame, D, which supports the several parts of my improved attachment, is situated inv close proximity to the cylinder 13, and is formed of a single piece of cast metal. having a pedestal, d, (partly shown in Fig. 2,) which is secured to the foot or base plate of the machine. The inner edge of the bed-piece D has an arm, (1', extending upwardly above the same and inwardly to a point near the needle-cylinder, and has upwardlyprojecting flanges (Z on each of its sides and an oblong slot, (7 formed in its lower portion.

Projecting out from under the sides of the 1 arm (1 of the bed-piece are arms E and E,

the former having a notch, 0, cut in its side, So for purposes hereinafter stated.

Upon the arm (1 and between the flanges (F are longitudinally-movable slides F and F, which are held in place by a cap-plate, F fitted over the top of the same and secured to the flanges (1 by screws or other suitable means. The inner end of this plate is bifurcated or cut out to permit the vertical collar of the slide F and its attachments to work through it. The outer ends of the slides F and F are tapered and extended back of the arm (1 to a point above the pedestal (Z, and have their outer extremities formed into camshaped fingersf. The slide F is provided with an elongated slot, f and a downwardlycxtending pin, f which projects beyond the bottom of the arm d and has also a Vertical post, f", on its upper side near its front end, which is formed with a reduced upper portion and a screw-threaded end to receive a binding-nut. The uppermost slide, F, has a downwardlyextending pin, f formed there-v on, which proj eets through the slot f in the lower slide and arm (1. It has also a vertical collar, f, integral therewith on its upper side near its front end, which extends to the shoul- 5 der formed by the reduction of the post, there being an opening through the collar and slide of the same diameter. This opening in the collar and slide is in size somewhat larger than the post f" to enable it to be IO slightly moved back and :forth therein. The Dressers G' and l are situated zbove the slides and surrounding the post-f and collar f. They are formed with inclined or beveled serrated edges, and have vertical open- I 5 ings extending through their centers. Their inner contacting faces are recessed to form seats for hard-metal linings or disks II and II, which have hollow sleeves h 71., closely fitted in the openings formed in the pressers, and are retained therein by suitable set-screws. The opening in the sleeve 71 is of a size just adapted to fit the upper portion of the post) and the opening of the sleeve 7r to admit the collar f to be inserted therein, on. which said sleeves revolve. The inner surface of disk II, resting on the shoulder of the post, together with the top of the collar/ formsthe bearing for the upper presser. The lower sleeve, H, rests and has abearing on a flange 0 formed on the lower edge of the collar f To prevent the presscrs from separating and revolving independently of each other, an unexposed elongated radial slot, hiisformed in the disk II and an unexposed oblong stud,

3 5 71 of smaller dimensions than said slot is secured to the disk 11 at a point immediately beneath said slot and works in the slot, thereby locking the pressers together, but admitting of a slight independent movement. By

0 this construction of an unexposed slot and pin on the inner contacting faces of the pressers dust and dirt are prevented from accumulating between and wearing the face of the pressers to an. unevenness, as has been the ease heretofore where the slot and pin have been used in this class of devices.

In securing the stud h to the disk a pivotpin is inserted through one end of the stud and into the disk, thereby allowing the stud to swing or revolve on the disk to permit the movement of the pressers when the stud is situated transversely to the slides. 3y using the hard-metal disks or linings H and II the contacting orbearin surfaces of the presscrs are much more durable, it being understood that the pressers proper are of soft metal, as brass or copper. In using these disks the pressers are also readily removed and replaced by others, when injured or worn or when it is 6o desired to use those of a different style or pattern, with but little trouble and expense. A horizontal ratchet-wheel, K, is secured di rectly over the pedestal (Z by a journal-bolt, k. The wheel is formed with its upper portion of greater diameter than that of its lower portion, and the edge of the upper portion is provided with ratchet-teeth, and that of the lower portion is smooth, having only a cant block, 7c, secured thereon, for the purpose hereinafter stated. A hub, 73, is formed on the upper face of the wheel K, which has a removable collar, J, held in place on the hub by a set-screw,j. This collar has a series of elongated slots or grooves, j, cut in its sides near its upper and lower edges at points on a plane with the fingers f of the slides and at different intervals, according to the nature of the work to be performed, as more fullyhereina'fter set forth.

There are provided sprin I and I for forcing the slides F and F back against the collar J. These springs are coiled on a post, '1', which is attached to the front arm, (1, of the bedpiece, and have their outer ends placed in contact with the side of arm E. The spring I has its inner end placed back of the lug f and the spring I back of lug f on the respective slides.

To cause an automatic working of the several parts, a bell-crank lever, L, is pivoted at its angle to the outer end of the arm E, its long arm being bent down and extended to a point where the cam 11 on the cylinder B will come in contact therewith. This contacting end is provided with a friction-roller, Z, to prevent its retardii'ig the movement of the cylinder. The short arm L of the lever is carried inward on the bed-piece E, and has a pawl, L pivoted on its end. The teeth of this pawl is brought into contact with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel K, and is held in contact there with by a spring, I, coiled on a post secured to the lever-arm L, one end of the spring being carried up and placed in contact with the side of the pawl, while the other end is secured to the head of the lever-pivot, thereby retaining the long arm of the lever in contactwith the cam I) on the cylinder B and the end of the pawl in the ratchet.

To regulate the extent of movement of the pawl and lover, pins 1' and Z are placed on the under side of the lever-arm, as shown in Fig. 4, the pin Z being brought in contact with the side of the arm E when the lever leaves the cam to prevent the spring forcing the lever against the cylinder 1 and the pin Z coming in contact with the groove 6 in the opposite side of the arm E to prevent the pawl L from being forced down more than the space of one tooth on the ratchet-wheel. The stitch-wheel O is situated on the opposite side of the attachment from the lever L, in the usual position beyond the pressers, and is of well-known and ordinary construction, it being mounted on a spindle, P, which is supported in a col lar, \I, provided with the necessary post attaclnnent.

In my improvement the spindle passes through a circular collar, P, and is adjustably secured therein by a set-screw, p, the removal of which admits of a backward or forward movement of the spindle in the collar. This collar has a downwardly-extendi n g pivotpin, p which works in an elongated slot, r,

made in. the end of the short arm R. The lever B is pivoted at its angle to the end of the arm 1E, projecting out from under the arm (1 of the bed-piece. The short arm R of this lever extends outward to support the col.- lar and stitch-wheel, and its long arm is carried up in contact with the smooth surface of the periphery of the lower portion of wheel K, where it is held in contact by a spring, 8', secured to the short arm of the lever and having its inner end placed against the side of the arm E. The spring thus arranged retains the long arm of lever R in place, and in connection with the cam-wheel K holds the stitch-wheel in its proper position relative to the needles. To prevent the slides F and F from entering too far into the grooves of collar J, a shoulder, 2, is formed on their edges near the end of the outer end of the arm (1', and a projection, U, is formed on the adjacent flange of the arm, with which they come in contact, as full y shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

The operation of the attachment above described is as follows: As the cylinder 13 o t the machine revolves, the cam Z) is brought into contact with the end of the long arm of lever TL, forcing the same out, thereby drawing the short arm, with the pawl, back, the latter ongaging the ratchetwheel K and moving it the space of one tooth. By the continued revolution of the cylinder the ratchet-wheel is thus revolved, carrying with it the adjustable collar J on the wheel, the fingers f of the slides F and F passing freely over the surface of the collar. As the collar is thus turned the slots therein are brought directly opposite the fingers of the slides at such intervals as the nature of the work requires. The slides before reaching the slots are retained in a position causingthe pressers G and G to be held directly over each other, thereby closing the barbs of all the needles as they are brought opposite the same. \Vhen a slot has reached this point, the slide opposite thereto, and consequently the presser mounted thereon, is forced back by virtue of the spring, and the end or finger of the slide is forced into the slot, and the barb on the needle, coming directly opposite said presser, is thereby left open and the required tuck or raised stitch is produced. As the collar Jthus revolves, the cam-edge of the fingerf forces the slide back by coming in contact-with the end wall of the slot in the collar, and the presser is again brought in position to close the needles. The same operation is performed as the respective slots in the collar are brought opposite the ends of the slides. The position and size of the slots depend on the nature of the work desired to be produced, and the collar being removable the style of work may be varied at will by applying collars having a different arrangement of slots. The revolution of the ratchet-wheel K brings the cam A." on the lower edge of the wheel in contact with the end of the long arm of the lever R,,which is thereby thrown out, forcing the short arm R of said lever in, and thus moving the stitchwheel farther into the needles, making a longer stitch and producing a slack course. This movement of the stitch-wheel may be varied according to the nature of the work by adding to the ratchet-wheel one or more camblocks, 7.". 3y placing a greater number of cam project-ions on the needle-cylinder B it is evident that a more rapid movement of the ratchet-wheel can be obtained, and thus cause the pressers to be thrown out and in at more frequent periods.

I am aware that many minor changes in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my improvement can be made and' substituted for those shown and described without departing from the nature and spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination of two pressers arranged one above the other, one of said pressers having an unexposed oblong slot formed in its inner contacting face, and the other presser having an oblongst'ud secured thereon adapted to work in said slot, as set forth.

9. The comlgiinati on of two pressers having their inner contactin g faces recessed and provided with removable linings, one of said linings having an unexposed oblong or radial slot therein and the other an oblong stud secured thereto of smaller diameter than said. slot and adapted to work therein, as set forth.

3. The combination, with two pressershavin gtheirinner contacting faces recessed, of removable linings in. said recesses, one of said linings havin an unexposed oblong slot and the other having a pivoted stud therein working in said slot, as set forth.

-it. The combination, with a needle-cylinder, a ratchet-wheel, a lever and pawl, spring-actir ated presser-slides, and pressers one above the other having inner contacting faces, of a removable collar having a series of slots formed therein on different planes registering with the slides for controlling the movement of the pressers, as set forth.

5. The combination, with a needle-cylinder,

a lever and pawl, a ratchet-wheel, and a re volving slotted collar, of spring actuated presser-slides having cam-shaped fingers alternately working in the slots of said collar, a poston the under slide working thronglran opening in the upper slide, an upper presser carried by said post, a collar on the upper slide, and a lower presser carried by said collar, as set forth.

6. The co1nbination,with a pawl and ratchet, a slotted collar, and means for actuating the pawl of spring-actuated slides one above the other, a vertical collar on the upper slide, a vertical post on the under slide of less diameter than the opening in the collar and extending through the same, a presser secured on the post, and a presser mounted on. the

collar, whereby an independent longitudinal movement of the pressers is permitted, as set forth.

7. The combination, with a ncedle-cyliiuler having a cam projection thereon, of a horizontal ratchet-wheel and a lever and pawl for rotating the same, a removable circular collar having elongated slots formed therein secured to said wheel, spring-actuated slides coming in contact with said collar, and independentlymoving pressers secured to the upper sides of said slides and located above the same, as set forth.

S. The combination, with a needle-cylinder having a cam projection thereon, of a bedpiece with a flanged arm projecting therefrom, indepen dent spring-actuated slides on the arm between the flanges, a removable cap-plate,

pressers mounted on said slides and located above the same, a ratchet-wheel having a removable collar secured thereto, with slots formed therein on different planes, and a pawl and lever for actuating said wheel, as set forth.

9. The combination, with a needle-cylinder having a cam projection thereon, of a bedpiece provided with an inwardly-extending slotted arm having flanges formed on its upper side, spring-actuated slides between the flanges, a cap-plate secured to the flanges of the arm, a ratchet-wheel secured to said bedpiece having a removable slotted collar attached thereto, a lever and pawl for actuating said ratchet, and pressers, as set forth.

10. The combination, with a needle-cylinder having a cam projection thereon, of a horizontally arranged ratchetwheel provided with a cam-block, a lever and pawl for actuating said wheel, a bell-crank lever, a stitchwheel connected therewith, said bell-crank lever coming in contact with the cam on the ratchet-wheel and operating the stitch-wheel, and a spring secured on said bell-crank lever for forcing back the stitch-wheel, as set forth.

11. The combination, with a needle-cylinder having a cam projection thereon, of an inwardly-projecting bed-piece formed with a flanged top, a ratchet-wheel having a hub projection, a slotted collar arranged on said hub,

springactuated presser-bearing slides sei cured between the flanges having cam-shaped fingers working independently in the slots of said collar, shoulders formed on said slides, and a projection on the bedpiece' limiting the movement of the slides, and a lever and pawl for actuating said ratchet-wheel as set forth.

12. The combination, with a needle-cylinder having a cam projection thereon, of an inwardly-extending arm formed with a slotted bottom and flanges on its upper side, and having an arm projecting out from its side supporting a pawl-actuating lever, spring-actuated slides having pressers thereon secured between said flanges, said slides having pins extending downwardly through and working in the slot of the said inwardly-extending arm, a horizontally-arranged ratchet-wheel having a hub projection, a grooved collar secured to said hub, and a lever and pawl for actuating said ratchet-wheel, as set forth.

13. The combination, with a needle-cylinder having a cam projection thereon, of a bed-piece having an inwardly-extending arm formed with a slot in its lower side and flanges on its upper side, spring-actuated slides having pressers thereon secured between said flanges, the lower slide having a slot therein and a downwardly-projecting pin, and the upper slide having a pin projecting downwardly and through the slot in the lower slide, both of said pins working in and extending through the slot in the arm of the bed-piece, and having springs connected therewith for moving the slides, a bell-crank lever secured to the side of said bed-piece, a pawl connected to said lever, a spring coiled 011 a post on said lever having its ends placed againstthe bed-piece and the pawl, and a ratchet-wheel having a slotted collar thereon, as set forth.

1%. The combination, with a ratchet-wheel, pawl, a slotted collar, and means for actuating the pawl, of a pair of longitudinally-movable slides having downwardly extending pins, a vertical post formed on one of the slides and a vertical collar formed on the other slide, pressers situated 011 said collar and post, and springs acting against the pins for forcing the slides back, as set forth.

15. The combination, with aratchet having a cam thereon and a pawl, of a bell-crank lever having a slot in its short arm, a collar having a downwardly-extending pivot-pin in said slot, a spindle having a stitch-wheel on its end extended through and secured in said collar, and means for actuating the pawl, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' GEORGE COOPER.

\Yitnesses:

CHARLES COOPER, EDWARD J. HALL. 

